6,134 research outputs found
Gravitational instantons and internal dimensions
We Study instanton solutions in general relativity with a scalar field. The
metric ansatz we use is composed of a particular warp product of general
Einstein metrics, such as those found in a number of cosmological settings,
including string cosmology, supergravity compactifications and general Kaluza
Klein reductions. Using the Hartle-Hawking prescription the instantons we
obtain determine whether metrics involving extra compact dimensions of this
type are favoured as initial conditions for the universe. Specifically, we find
that these product metric instantons, viewed as constrained instantons, do have
a local minima in the action. These minima are then compared with the higher
dimensional version of the Hawking-Turok instantons, and we argue that the
latter always have lower action than those associated with these product
metrics.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure
Scaling Laws for Non-Intercommuting Cosmic String Networks
We study the evolution of non-interacting and entangled cosmic string
networks in the context of the velocity-dependent one-scale model. Such
networks may be formed in several contexts, including brane inflation. We show
that the frozen network solution , although generic, is only a
transient one, and that the asymptotic solution is still as in the
case of ordinary (intercommuting) strings, although in the present context the
universe will usually be string-dominated. Thus the behaviour of two strings
when they cross does not seem to affect their scaling laws, but only their
densities relative to the background.Comment: Phys. Rev. D (in press); v2: final published version (references
added, typos corrected
Determination of thermodynamic properties of AeroZINE-50, phase 1
Literature survey of, and test procedure for determination of thermodynamic properties of AeroZINE-5
New type scalar fields for cosmic acceleration
We present a model where a non-conventional scalar field may act like dark
energy leading to cosmic acceleration. The latter is driven by an appropriate
field configuration, which result in an effective cosmological constant. The
potential role of such a scalar in the cosmological constant problem is also
discussed.Comment: 6 page
X-type and Y-type junction stability in domain wall networks
We develop an analytic formalism that allows one to quantify the stability
properties of X-type and Y-type junctions in domain wall networks in two
dimensions. A similar approach might be applicable to more general defect
systems involving junctions that appear in a range of physical situations, for
example, in the context of F- and D-type strings in string theory. We apply
this formalism to a particular field theory, Carter's pentavac model, where the
strength of the symmetry breaking is governed by the parameter .
We find that for low values of the symmetry breaking parameter X-type junctions
will be stable, whereas for higher values an X-type junction will separate into
two Y-type junctions. The critical angle separating the two regimes is given by
\alpha_c = 293^{\circ}\sqrt{|\epsilon|} and this is confirmed using simple
numerical experiments. We go on to simulate the pentavac model from random
initial conditions and we find that the dominant junction is of \ytype for
|\epsilon| \geq 0.02 and is of \xtype for |\epsilon| \leq 0.02\epsilon\qsubrm{N}{dw}\propto
t^{-1}\epsilont^{-1}$ lore.Comment: 24 pages, 13 figures; typos fixe
Scaling configurations of cosmic superstring networks and their cosmological implications
We study the cosmic microwave background temperature and polarisation spectra
sourced by multi-tension cosmic superstring networks. First we obtain solutions
for the characteristic length scales and velocities associated with the
evolution of a network of F-D strings, allowing for the formation of junctions
between strings of different tensions. We find two distinct regimes describing
the resulting scaling distributions for the relative densities of the different
types of strings, depending on the magnitude of the fundamental string coupling
g_s. In one of them, corresponding to the value of the coupling being of order
unity, the network's stress-energy power spectrum is dominated by populous
light F and D strings, while the other regime, at smaller values of g_s, has
the spectrum dominated by rare heavy D strings. These regimes are seen in the
CMB anisotropies associated with the network. We focus on the dependence of the
shape of the B-mode polarisation spectrum on g_s and show that measuring the
peak position of the B-mode spectrum can point to a particular value of the
string coupling. Finally, we assess how this result, along with pulsar bounds
on the production of gravitational waves from strings, can be used to constrain
a combination of g_s and the fundamental string tension mu_F. Since CMB and
pulsar bounds constrain different combinations of the string tensions and
densities, they result in distinct shapes of bounding contours in the (mu_F,
g_s) parameter plane, thus providing complementary constraints on the
properties of cosmic superstrings.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables; V2: matches published version (PRD
Stretching Wiggly Strings
How does the amplitude of a wiggle on a string change when the string is
stretched? We answer this question for both longitudinal and transverse wiggles
and for arbitrary equation of state, {\it i.e.}, for arbitrary relation between
the tension and the energy per unit length of the string.
This completes our derivation of the renormalization of string parameters which
results from averaging out small scale wiggles on a string. The program is
presented here in its entirety.Comment: Written with ReVTeX 3.0 package. Two figures are not included.
Complete paper with postscript figures can be retrieved through anonymous ftp
@quark.phys.ufl.edu. Get /preprints/ifthep94_4.tar.gz, gunzip and tar it.
UFIFT-HEP-94-
Cosmic Strings from Supersymmetric Flat Directions
Flat directions are a generic feature of the scalar potential in
supersymmetric gauge field theories. They can arise, for example, from D-terms
associated with an extra abelian gauge symmetry. Even when supersymmetry is
broken softly, there often remain directions in the scalar field space along
which the potential is almost flat. Upon breaking a gauge symmetry along one of
these almost flat directions, cosmic strings may form. Relative to the standard
cosmic string picture based on the abelian Higgs model, these flat-direction
cosmic strings have the extreme Type-I properties of a thin gauge core
surrounded by a much wider scalar field profile. We perform a comprehensive
study of the microscopic, macroscopic, and observational characteristics of
this class of strings. We find many differences from the standard string
scenario, including stable higher winding mode strings, the dynamical formation
of higher mode strings from lower ones, and a resultant multi-tension scaling
string network in the early universe. These strings are only moderately
constrained by current observations, and their gravitational wave signatures
may be detectable at future gravity wave detectors. Furthermore, there is the
interesting but speculative prospect that the decays of cosmic string loops in
the early universe could be a source of ultra-high energy cosmic rays or
non-thermal dark matter. We also compare the observational signatures of
flat-direction cosmic strings with those of ordinary cosmic strings as well as
(p,q) cosmic strings motivated by superstring theory.Comment: 58 pages, 16 figures, v2. accepted to PRD, added comments about
baryogenesis and boosted decay products from cusp annihilatio
The stability of cosmological scaling solutions
We study the stability of cosmological scaling solutions within the class of
spatially homogeneous cosmological models with a perfect fluid subject to the
equation of state p_gamma=(gamma-1) rho_gamma (where gamma is a constant
satisfying 0 < gamma < 2) and a scalar field with an exponential potential. The
scaling solutions, which are spatially flat isotropic models in which the
scalar field energy density tracks that of the perfect fluid, are of physical
interest. For example, in these models a significant fraction of the current
energy density of the Universe may be contained in the scalar field whose
dynamical effects mimic cold dark matter. It is known that the scaling
solutions are late-time attractors (i.e., stable) in the subclass of flat
isotropic models. We find that the scaling solutions are stable (to shear and
curvature perturbations) in generic anisotropic Bianchi models when gamma <
2/3. However, when gamma > 2/3, and particularly for realistic matter with
gamma >= 1, the scaling solutions are unstable; essentially they are unstable
to curvature perturbations, although they are stable to shear perturbations. We
briefly discuss the physical consequences of these results.Comment: AMSTeX, 7 pages, re-submitted to Phys Rev Let
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